WELCOME Town & Parish Forum 27 March 2014

1. WELCOME • Town & Parish Forum • 27 March 2014

2. AGENDA • Financial Overview • Communities • Breckland Training Services • Norfolk Association of Local Councils • Town Council Liaison Arrangements • Questions & Answers

3. 2014-15 Financial Overview Town & Parish Forum March 2014

4. Introduction • Medium Term revenue budget position • 2014-15 costs breakdown • Council tax level • Business Rates pool

5. Medium Term Budget (as at 12-13) • Net Cost of Services V Total Income

6. Medium Term Budget (as at 14-15) • Net Cost of Services V Total Income

7. Medium Term Budget (as at 14-15) • Outcomes: • 2 years balanced budget • 2 years freeze on Council Tax levels • Efficiency requirement in 2016-17 reduced to £1.35m compared to £3.33m

8. Medium Term Budget (as at 14-15) • Sensitivities: • NNDR levels • Central Government funding • Economic growth • Contract inflation • Interest rates • Localised Council Tax Support (LCTS) scheme • Council Tax

9. 2014-15 Cost Breakdown

10. 2014-15 Cost Breakdown

11. 2014-15 Income Breakdown

12. 2014-15 Council Tax

13. 2014-15 Council Tax

14. Business Rates Pool • 2014-15 Breckland Joined Norfolk Pool • Tariff paid into Pool rather than to Central Government • This results in saving in tariff to Norfolk overall • Keeps funding within Norfolk rather than centralised • Funding to be used to promote economic development within Norfolk

15. Communities Steve James Community Development

16. 2013/14 Review….. FOTF 2013 Dereham 5k Cycle Breckland Community Development Village Games Community Grants Book Festival Holiday Activities Thetford Parkrun

17. The year ahead…. 26th July 2014 – Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse festivalonthefarm.com

18. The year ahead…. Grants up to £500 for community projects which explore, share and conserve the heritage of the First World War in Breckland.  The deadline for grant applications is Friday 9 May 2014

19. The year ahead…. 22nd June at Northgate High School

20. The year ahead…. • Volunteers recruited for 2014 • Training weekend 29th & 30th March

21. The year ahead…. • Fitness in Later Life launching April 2014

22. The year ahead…. • 2 x 10 week blocks of 12 courses • Such as Yoga, Golf, Indoor Bowls, Badminton targeted at inactive people

23. The year ahead…. • Spring 2015 • Author visits & workshops across the District

26. Breckland’s Member Development Journey

28. So how good is this status? • 336 Local Authorities • 235 signed up to achieve the Charter • 136 achieved the Charter • 13 achieved Charter Plus • 22 signed up to achieve the Charter • 17achieved the Charter • 3 achieved Charter Plus

29. What does this mean for Councillors? Dedicated Panel Annual Self Assessment Questionnaires Annual Personal Development interviews 6 month review Tailor made Training programme

30. Town and Parish Councillors 5 Town Councils 92 Parish Councils ??? Councillors

31. Training Programme 2014-2015 • Chairing Meeting Skills • Software training • Media Training • Community Champions • Managing your time

32. To book…… • Through your Town/Parish Clerk • Directly to the Breckland Training Team • Leanne Neave – 01362 656225 • leanne.neave@breckland.gov.uk

33. Thank you

34. Breckland Town & Parish Forum 27.03.14 Jane Scarrott – Norfolk ALC

35. NorfolkALC Membership Association serving the needs of Parishes throughout Norfolk We have two main streams of funding Membership Subscriptions Norfolk County Council Grant

36. Parishes In Norfolk

37. Non-Members in Breckland Bradenham Sparham Cockley Cley Snetterton Garboldisham South Pickenham Gt. Cressingham Wellingham Kenninghall Lt. Cressingham Oxborough Rougham Shropham

38. What services do we offer ? 1 HR Advice Employment Service/Recruitment (chargeable) Meeting Procedure Advice Desk Top Legal Service Weekly e-mail Newsletter Website Lobbying via the National Association

39. What services do we offer ? 2 Quality Council Mentoring Seminars – either topic specific or general Training Meeting Attendance Locum Clerk service Cafe Clusters 1-1 Meetings LET US KNOW!

40. Current Problems for Parish Councils Precept – concern regarding localisation of Council Tax Support Scheme grant and possible future capping ‘Informed’ Public! Freedom of Information – social media Audit (proposed transparency code) Consultation overload – recent Local Audit and Accountability Act

41. Norfolk ALC Norfolk has a great number of Parishes but they are classed in National Terms as small-medium But smaller councils tend to have bigger problems!

42. What are their problems? Apathy Too much Interest Inter weaving with other village organisations Family Ties Clerks salary as a proportion of the precept Too much to do!

43. What are their problems Small Councils have big problems Wind Farms Solar Farms Extraction Sites Second Homes Affordable Housing

44. Growth of the Multi-clerk Many clerks now cover more than one Parish Benefits: Training Costs Shared Good Practice Extended Easy to cluster and consult

45. Growth of the Multi-clerk Many clerks now cover more than one Parish Pitfalls: Can be anti-training Can ‘lead’ the council Can run out of time! Loss of clerk leaves no cover locally

46. Localism “My job as Secretary of State is not to sit in my office, making all the decisions, pulling all the strings, coming up with more and more ways to annoy you. It’s to get out of your way: and to get everything else out of your way too. That’s what localism means. Pushing power out to local government, and beyond into neighbourhoods and communities.” Eric Pickles July 2010

47. Localism Act 2011 Aim to assist councils and communities to make a difference locally through introduction of: General Power of Competence Community Right to Challenge Neighbourhood Planning Community Right to Bid

48. Localism Update Where are we? According to DCLG localism means “doing more for less” Eric Pickles has also said local councils are “localism’s magic wand” Does this mean the Government want parishes to deliver more for even less?

49. Conclusion There are councils with problems and these are the ones we are aware of. However, the vast majority of Town and Parish Councils are undertaking services that meet the needs of their community in a professional and timely manner. Hopefully, they are all embracing Localism too!